New AD issued for Cessna seat latch mechanisms

May 19, 2011

ByDan Namowitz

The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) that adds steps and clarifies procedures of a superseded AD for inspections and replacement of seat-latching mechanism parts on a variety of Cessna single- and multiengine aircraft.

“This AD was prompted by reports of seats slipping on the rails where the primary latch pin for the pilot/copilot seat is not properly engaged in the seat rail/track and reports of the seat roller housing departing the seat rail. We are issuing this AD to prevent seat slippage or the seat roller housing from departing the seat rail, which may consequently cause the pilot/copilot to be unable to reach all the controls. This failure could lead to the pilot/copilot losing control of the airplane,” the FAA said in the Federal Register notice published May 13.

Operators must comply with the AD within 100 hours or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first, since compliance with superseded AD 87-20-03 R2. Continued compliance will be required every 100 hours, or at annual inspection, whichever occurs first.

The FAA estimates that the AD will affect 36,000 U.S.-registered aircraft.